Stalls for separating horses on race-tracks



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. A. FINIGAN.

STALLS Foe SEPARATING HORSES 0N RAGE TRACKS.

No. 382,961. Patented Mey 15, 1888.

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- P. A. FINIGAN.

STALLS POR SEPARATING HORS-Bs 0N RAGE TRACKS. No. 382,961. Patented May l5, 188,8.

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IlivTTEn" STATES PaTENT Ormea.,

PETER ANDREV FINIGAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STALLS FOR SEPARATING HORSES ON RACE-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,961, dated May 15, 1888.

Application filed October 25, 1887. Serial No. 253,325. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, PETER ANDREW FINI- GAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stalls for Separating Horses on Race-Tracks, of which the following` is a specication.

My invention relates to stalls for separating horses preparatory to starting them on racetracks in contests of speed; and the object is to provide an effective means for separating the horses, so that no confusion or injury will arise either to the horses or their jockeys by the visible presence or excitement of other horses, and also to give to each horse all the advantages in the start which can be had by his contestants.

The need of some means for separating and isolating the several contesting horses at the start of a race is severely felt, as many injuries have resulted from allowing horses to come to the line without being separated, owing to the excitability or viciousness of some of the horses, and it hasv also been found difficult to bring all the horses properly up so as to give a fair and even start to the whole field. To obviate these difficulties and attain the objects proposed, I provide a stalled or isolated starting device in which the horses may stand in the order allotted or secured, each horse being separated and isolated froml every other, and

yet in position and at the line ready for a fair and even start. This starting device consists of a series of partitions held upon transverse supports at a proper distance apart to permit a horse and rider to occupy each space or compartment. The partitions and supports are removable, and may be taken out ofthe way in a few seconds after the horses have started. I may also provide a front curtain, which is removed just before or simultaneously with the signal to go. The supports upon which the partitions are suspended are located well up above the heads of the jockeys and offer no obstruction or inconvenience to the start.

The following detailed description will give a more definite idea of the manner in which my invention is carried out.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the most feasible means for carrying the invention into practice.

Figure I is a front elevation of the device constituting my invention. Fig. II 1s a plan view of the device and the track, showing the V spacingpartitions and rod for the front eurtain also. Fig. III is a rear elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

'A is the track, and B B are posts or standards on which the device is suspended. These posts are planted on the sides of the track at such points as there is any probability of making a start from, and they constitute the only permanent addition to the track, the remaining portions of my device being removable. It will be understood, of course, that these posts may also be movable, if it is desired, and that posts can quickly and readily be planted at any other point around the track from which it may be desired to start.

The posts or standards B B are arranged in a pair on each side of the track, the posts of each pair being a sufficient distance apart to permit a horse or horse and sulky to stand between them-say twenty feet-and the posts are of sut'licient height--say twenty feetnto carry a rope, wire, or other support across the track well up above the horses and jockeys.

Ropes, wires, or similar supports, c c, are run across the track from the tops of the 0pposite posts, being fastened to the top of t-he post on the outside ofthe track, and run over pulleys b Z) ou the tops of the posts on the inside of the track, and carried by reels b b near the bottom of said inside posts, whereby the ropes or other supports may be drawn taut and locked in any convenient manner. At suitable distances apart on the portions of these ropes which span the track are furnished rings or clamps I) D, to which are secured the partitions E E, Sec., which when the supports are drawn taut, as above explained, divide t-he width of the track into a series o1spaces,-EX EX, Src., into each of which a horse may be brought ready for the start, the horses taking their places in the order allotted or otherwise determined, as in the ordinary race. rILhe partitions reach from the support-s nearly or quite to the ground, so that each horse will be entirely isolated from all others, and the jockeys cannot determine who is next to them.

IOO

The isolated stalls or spaces insure a degree of safety and immunity from accidents,which renders the use of this simple and inexpensive device a great boon to the race-course.

The excitement orfviciousness of each horse is strictly confined to himself in the start, and there being no confusion or emulation among the horses or jockeys prior to the giving of the signal, even the most restless and vicious horses are made less troublesome, so that a fair even start is secured to the Whole field.

The partitions are preferably made of good stout canvas, and may be permanently secured to the supports, or may be removably held thereupon by means of snap-hooks or clamps, as shown in Fig. III.

If desired, I may use a front curtain, F, suspended on a separate support, 0X, as shown in Fig. II. When used, this front curtain is preferably made in two pieces centrally separable and made to slide upon the support c, so that it can be instantly withdrawn just before or when the signal to go is given. The addition of this front curtain is a still further prevention against uneven and unfair starting, and it Will be found of great service in many instances.

The device described is particularly useful in case of riding races; but of course it is .equally applicable, if not so requisite, in driving races. p

lt is evident, too, that there are many ways of carrying this invention into practice in addition to the construction and details herein described, and I would not be understood as limiting myself to the construction described and shown.

As soon as the horses are started the removable portion ofthe device is at once withdrawn, either by removing the supporting-ropes'from the posts on one side and carrying them over the track, or,when it is not desired to remove the ropes, by simply sliding the partitions to the side of the track upon the supportingropes, provision for which may be made by having them attached to rings Which will slide upon the ropes. The removals may be made by hand or by electricity. I have shown devices for removing by hand; but it will be readily understood that appliances for the same purpose adapted to be worked by the electric current could be employed for withdrawing the front curtain quickly, as Well as for removing the partitions after the horses are started.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. The combination, with suitable side supports, of transverse su pporting means mounted upon the side supports, and curtains or partitions suspeuded from the transverse supporting means to form removable stalls upon a race-track, substantially as set forth.

2. Ihe combination, with suitable side supports,of transverse supporting means mounted thereupon, and curtains or partitions suspended from the transverse supporting means to form removable stalls upon a racetrack, and a removable transverse curtain or screen placed in front of said stalls, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination, With the standards or posts, one pair of which is provided with pulleys and reels, as described, ofthe transverse supporting-ropes and the depending partitions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

PETER ANDREW FINIGAN.

Witnesses:

H. LANG, Guo. T. KNOX, S. W. DOGGETT.

[Ih S] 

